Older America 



A GIRL'S REVELATION OF A 
COLONIAL AMERICAN HOME 






' 69 
W47 
opy 1 




—Printed and circulated by White & Tyler as a 
contribution to a closer knowledge of earlier Amer- 
ican customs and home life. Organizations and in- 
dividuals desiring to circulate this ^riking letter 
may secure rates per hundred or thousand from 

AVIHITE & TYLER 

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Phone 14028 



Tied to the table, and each guest was provided 
with one of her silver porringers — also cream 
and lumps of sugar. 

The Captain talked to me before dinner, 
and I told him, before I knew I was getting 
confidential, how you were all in the wilds. 
He said that was what the new country needed, 
and that it was not best to have Nantucket 
peopled entirely with Starbucks. 

That I was one of them was plain to be 
sure, if my name was Wentworth, and he 
looked pleasantly around the circle of Star- 
bucks. I suppose I do resemble them all. 

I saw Aunt Esther looking so sharply at 
me, that I remembered she had often told me 
that it was unseemly for me to talk with men, 
and presently I became discreetly silent. But 
when dinner was announced, the Captain took 
me out and made me sit by him. 

After Grandpa had asked a blessing on the 
food. Aunt Content said to her son and friend, 
"I have made a dish of tea for you, but am 
fearful I have not prepared it as it hath need, 
and would like to have your opinion." 
"Whereupon, my Cousin made answer, "As my 
beloved Mother desires my opinion, I must 
tell her that a teaspoonful of this beverage 
would nearly kill any of us here at the table." 
The Captain then said laughingly that Aunt 
could keep the decoction for a dye to color 
woolens. He further said, he would, if she 
so desired, instruct her how to draw tea him- 
self, "And this young lady," he continued, 
turning to me, "shall make the first dish of 
the beverage used in Nantucket." Dinner 
being over (but they all remained at table, 
except Captain Morris and myself — for Aunt 
Content bade me to assist him as he should 
direct), we searched for a suitable vessel 
wherein to draw the tea. 

At last I saw Uncle Nathaniel's large gray 
stone pitcher, into which our guest instructed 
me to put as much tea as I could hold be- 
tween my thumb and forefinger, for each per- 
son, and an additional pinch for the pitcher. 
Then he told me to pour upon it, boiling hot 
water, sufficient for us all, and set the pitcher 
on the coals, and let it remain until it came 
to a gentle boil. 

The tea was then poured into the tankard, 
which Aunt Content had made ready, and the 
Captain carried it to the table for me and 



helped me pour it into the porringers for the 
guests. He was so kind as to say it was the 
best dish of tea he ever drank. 

We had a wholesome dinner, and an enjoy- 
able one withal. 

Cousin Nat told stories and sang songs in 
which Captain Morris joined, and the happy 
New Year's greetings took place of good-byes, 
and our neighbors left for their respective 
homes. 

My Cousin's friend still lingers for the 
shooting, and there is not much spinning or 
weaving done, it takes so much time for the 
cooking and eating and visiting. He is very 
agreeable, and calls my Grandfather the Miles 
Standish of Nantucket. 

I heard him tell Uncle Nathaniel that we 
had good blood, and that ever since he be- 
came acquainted with Cousin Nat, he had 
conceived a great admiration for the Nathan- 
iel Starbucks, and he said something about 
a wife. Perhaps he remains here so long on 
Aunt Esther's account. But dear me! she is 
so prim — (I write with all respect dear 
Mother) and he is such a jovial gentleman, 
I do not see how such a union could be har- 
monious. If he has regard for her, it must be 
on account of the Starbuck blood. 

Oh, my dear Mother! how can I tell you? 
It is not for love of Aunt Esther that Captain 
Morris remains — ^but me, — your own little 
daughter! And all the Starbucks, saving 
indeed Aunt Esther who declares I ought to 
be put back in pinafores — have given their 
consent that I shall be married and sail away 
v^rith my husband, in my husband's ship, to 
foreign parts, to see for myself all the beau- 
tiful and wonderful things of which I have 
heard so much of late. 

But I will not give my consent till I have 
my Father's and Mother's first, as there is a 
company being made up to go with my Cousin 
Nathaniel and the Captain, through the Win- 
ter snows, to your far away home; and after 
all, it will be the new friend of whom I have 
written so much who will take this letter to 
you. 

I am sure, dear Mother, that you, who know 
my heart so well, will not think it unseemly 
for me to hope that the Lord will guide your 
heart, and that of my Father, to feel kindly 
disposed toward this gentleman: for, indeed. 






A Letter of 1 784 

PiERSON W. Banning 
This remarkable letter, written nearly 200 
years ago, was discovered by Frederick M. 
Steele, of Chicago, and read by him before 
the Mayflower Society in that city. It gives a 
most inlimnle and charming glimpse of the 
life of a young lady in early colonial times 
in America. By contrast with conditions to- 
day, the young women of our generation cer- 
tainly have nolliing to complain about in spite 
of the constant clamor for still greater priv- 
ileges, all of which is lending farther and far- 
ther away from that real home life upon which 
the welfare of this country in its final analysis 
is based. No one can read liiis letter without 
becoming fascinated willi the remarkable 
delicacy of language and thought expressed 
therein : 

Starbuck Plantation, Near Maddeket, 
Nantucket Island, Sept. 20, 1748. 
My Own Dear Mother: 

It seems a very long time since you and 
my honored Fatiior and my beloved brothers 
and sisters started for your new home. I sup- 
pose you have not at lliis writing reached your 
destination. I think of you every day and all 
day long, as niarcliing. marching, marching: 
following t!ie lonely trail llirougli the inter- 
minable forests, and sometimes I am tempted 
to repine in that my Father thought best to 
remove to that distant settlement. But my 
Grandfather tells me liiat the entertaining of 
that sentiment is unworthy the daughter of a 
pioneer; and since it was thought best for me 
to remain behind for a S(>ason, I must improve 
my time to the best advantage. This I try to 
do cheerfully, and Aimt Content is so kind as 
to say I am of some service to her in our 

.-, ': iH:t 
..,'•■ s;->ai«tjr 

MAY J? I9?2 



'J 



household duties and in spinning and weaving. 
Preadventure my letter should seem a puzzle 
to you, I hasten to say that I indite a para- 
graph or two at a time, at leisure, and when 
anything comes into my mind that I desire you 
to know, I strai,'i;htway go to Uncle Nathaniel's 
desk and set it down. I do this, dear Mother, 
that you may share in my pleasureable 
thoughts, and may know of my daily life; and 
also that my brothers and sisters may in a 
measure partake of my enjoyment. 

The principal news I have to write is that 
my cousin, Nathaniel Starbuck, Jr., has re- 
turned to Boston after his late long voyage to 
China, and is now hourly looked for here. 
There are divers preparations being made for 
his welcoming. My Grandfather walks rest- 
lessly up and down the roadway by which our 
traveller must come. Uncle Nathaniel says 
with pride, "The boy will have many stories 
to tell." Aunt Content flits about the house 
with a smile on her face, and anon, tears in 
her eyes, concocting her favorite dishes of 
which her son used to be so fond. Dear old 
Grandma knits and knits, "because" — she says 
— "Thaniel never yet wore any stockings but 
of my own making, and I have a good supply 
for him to take with him on his next voyage." 
I, even I, am to have a new blue gown made 
of Auntie's last web which is the finest, softest 
flannel ever made on the Island. 

My cousin has come! He is tall and lithe, 
with handsome hair and eyes; but his com- 
plexion is brown with ocean winds and East- 
ern suns. He says it is like a fairy tale, that 
I am the same little dumpling of a cousin that 
he used to toss up in the air when he was home 
last. He is much grieved to find you all gone, 
and is planning a hunting expedition whose 
objective point will be your far away settle- 
ment. 

The neighbors all congregated around the 
kitchen fire to hear his wonderful stories and 
adventures, which he was relating all day long, 
and far into the night. For all he has trav- 
elled all over the world, he is as pleased as 
a little boy to be liome again on the dear old 
Nantucket plantation. 

We are all as happy as can be with our 
divided hearts, and we all have a frequent 
thought for the wanderers. 



Grandfather remembers you morning and 
evening at the Throne of Grace. 

My cousin has brought a great many curi- 
osities and presents for us all. 

One is a silken, creamy shawl for me, em- 
broidered in beautiful flowers. 

Another is a gown of fancy Canton crepe, as 
white as snow, and they are so pretty I am 
sure I shall not dare to wear them. Grandpa 
says they shall be kept for my wedding! But 
Aunt Esther says it is unseemly for such 
thoughts to be put in a maiden's head. 

Yet Aunt Content gave me the other day 
a whole piece of linen from the Fall bleach, 
to be kept, she said, against a time of need. 
At all events, my foreign finery is packed 
away in foreign gums and spices, in a foreign 
box; and is not likely to turn any silly 
maiden's head at present. 

Cousin Nathaniel has returned to Boston, 
and yesterday he sent, by a trusty messenger, 
another sea chest, — in it is a large box of tea, 
the first that was ever on the Island — real 
Chinese tea, which Nathaniel himself pro- 
cured in China. It is of a green color, with 
little shrivelled leaves, and when eaten dry, 
has a pleasant spicy taste. Perhaps, when I 
have an opportunity to send this letter, I can 
enclose a sample quantity, that you may see 
what it is like. He also sent by the same 
hand, a letter saying that when he returned to 
Nantucket, the owner of the ship in which he 
voyaged. Captain Morris, will come with him 
from Boston to pay us a visit. 

We are again making master preparations 
for visitors, and if you will believe it, the 
large parlour, which has not been used since 
Aunt Mehitabel's wedding, is to be opened. 
The floor has been waxed and polished, and 
we have spread here and there, beautiful mats 
and rugs, which Cousin Nathaniel brought 
from foreign parts. With the many curious 
and handsome things whicii are hung upon 
the walls, and spread upon the tabic and man- 
telpiece, and the hugh fire of logs which the 
sharp weather renders necessary, you have no 
conception how fine the room appears. 

WQien I was admiring it this morning, Aunt 
Esther rebuked me, saying: — "The bright 
th)n;^5 of this world are of short duration." 
But. dear, gentle Grandma obsei"ved with a 
smile: "It is natural and right for the young 



to admire beauty"— at whieii Aunt Esther 
seemed displeased. 1 sometimes think she 
dislikes me because I am young; but that 
cannot be. Yet I sometimes wonder how, 
being my own sweet Mother's sister, she can 
be so unlike her. 

We have just liad tidings that Cousin Na- 
thaniel and Capt. Morris intend to arrive on 
tlie 31st of December. 

Uncle Nathaniel says he will liave a tea 
party, and invite Lieut. Marey's family. Kdw'd 
Starbuck's family, and a few others, to n\eet 
our distinguished guests, and to waleh ihi- old 
year out and the new year in. 

We cooked a beautiful dinner, and our 
guests all came. 1 wore my blue gown, with 
some lace at the neek tliat Gituidiua gave me, 
and my own dear Motlier's gold necklace. 
I tied back my curls — that Cousin Natluuiiel 
will not allow me to braid — wilii a blue ribbon 
which he bought in London. Aunt Esther 
says that men dislike to see girls look so 
brave; but (Mandma kissed me and called mo 
"Bonnie Blue Bell." 

Aunt Content has been nnich pestered in 
mind because she knows not how to cook and 
serve the tea, and after our neigidiois had 
assembled, she confided to them her perplex- 
ity. They all gathered about the lea ciiest, 
smelling and tasting the fragrant lu-rb. Mrs. 
Lieut. Marcy said she had iieard that il ought 
to be well cooked, to be palatahh-: and Mrs. 
Edw'd Starbuck said a lady in IJoslou wiio 
had drunk tea, told her it needed a good 
quantity, steeping, which made it ex|)ensive. 
So Aunt Content hung the five gallon bell- 
metal kettle on the crane and |)utting a two 
quart bowl full of tea in il, with plenty of 
water, swung it over the fire. 

Aunt Esther and Lydia Aim Marcy stayed 
in the kilchen to keep it boiling. While 1 
was laying the table, I heard Lydia Ann say, 
"I have heard that when tea is drunk, it givcF 
brilliancy to the eyes, and a youthful fresh- 
ness to the com[)lexion. I am afraid that my 
sister-in-law failed to put in a sufiTicient quan- 
tity." So Aunt Esther put anoth(;r bowlfu' 
of tea into the bell-metal kettle. When thi 
tea had boiled for an hour, my cousin am' 
Captain Morris arrived. The lea, which wa' 
boiled down to about a gallon, was poure''. 
into Grandma's large silver tankard, and car 



Tied to the table, and each guest was provided 
■H-ith one of her silver porringers — also cream 
and lumps of sugar. 

The Captain talked to me before dinner, 
and I told him, before I knew I was getting 
confidential, how you were all in the wilds. 
He said tliat was what the new country needed, 
and that it was not best to have Nantucket 
peopled entirely with Starbucks. 

That I was one of them was plain to be 
sure, if mv name was Wentworth, and he 
looked pleasantly around the circle of Star- 
bucks. I suppose I do resemble them all. 

I saw Aunt Esther looking so sharply at 
me, tliat I remembered she had often told me 
that it was unseemly for me to talk with men, 
and presently I became discreetly silent. But 
when dinner was announced, the Captain took 
me out and made me sit by him. 

After Grandpa had asked a blessing on the 
food, Aunt Content said to her son and friend, 
'"I have made a dish of tea for you, but am 
fearful I have not prepared it as it hath need, 
and would like to have your opinion." 
Whereupon, my Cousin made answer, "As my 
beloved Mother desires my opinion, I must 
tell her that a teaspoonful of this beverage 
would nearly kill any of us here at the table." 
The Captain then said laughingly that Aunt 
could keep the decoction for a dye to color 
woolens. He further said, he would, if she 
so desired, instruct her how to draw tea him- 
self, "And this young lady," he continued, 
turning to me, "shall make the first dish of 
the beverage used in Nantucket." Dinner 
being over (but they all remained at table, 
except Captain Morris and myself — for Aunt 
Content bade me to assist him as he should 
direct), we searched for a suitable vessel 
wherein to draw the tea. 

At lait I saw Uncle Nathaniel's large gray 
stone pitcher, into which our guest instructed 
me to put as much tea as I could hold be- 
tween my thumb and forefinger, for each per- 
son, and an additional pinch for the pitcher. 
Then he told me to pour upon it, boiling hot 
water, sufficient for us all, and set the pitcher 
on the coals, and let it remain until it came 
to a gentle boil. 

The tea was then poured into the tankard, 
which Aunt Content had made ready, and the 
Captain carried it to the table for me and 



helped me pour it into the porringers for the 
guests. He was so kind as to say it was the 
best dish of tea he ever drank. 

We had a wholesome dinner, and an enjoy- 
able one withal. 

Cousin Nat told stories and sang songs in 
which Captain Morris joined, and the happy 
New Year's greetings took place of good-byes, 
and our neighbors left for their respective 
homes. 

My Cousin's friend still lingers for the 
shooting, and there is not much spinning or 
weaving done, it takes so much time for the 
cooking and eating and visiting. He is very 
agreeable, and calls my Grandfather the Miles 
Standish of Nantucket. 

I heard him tell Uncle Nathaniel that we 
had good blood, and that ever since he be- 
came acquainted with Cousin Nat, he had 
conceived a great admiration for the Nathan- 
iel Starbucks, and he said something about 
a wife. Perhaps he remains here so long on 
Aunt Esther's account. But dear me! she is 
so prim — (I write with all respect dear 
Mother) and he is such a jovial gentleman, 
I do not see how such a union could be har- 
monious. If he has regard for her, it must be 
on account of the Starbuck blood. 

Oh, my dear Mother! how can I tell you? 
It is not for love of Aunt Esther that Captain 
Morris remains — but me, — your own little 
daughter! And all the Starbucks, saving 
indeed Aunt Esther who declares I ought to 
be put back in pinafores — have given their 
consent that I shall be married and sail away 
vi^ith my husband, in my husband's ship, to 
foreign parts, to see for myself all the beau- 
tiful and wonderful things of which I have 
heard so much of late. 

But I will not give my consent till I have 
my Father's and Mother's first, as there is a 
company being made up to go with my Cousin 
Nathaniel and the Captain, through the Win- 
ter snows, to your far away home; and after 
all, it will be the new friend of whom I have 
written so much who will take this letter to 
you. 

I am sure, dear Mother, that you, who know 
my heart so well, will not think it unseemly 
for me to hope that the Lord will guide your 
heart, and that of my Father, to feel kindly 
disposed toward this gentleman: for. indeed. 



he is of good repute, and is so good as to be 
very fond of me, and I feel that if I had your 
consent and that of my honored Father, to- 
gether with your blessing, I shall be very 
^^PPY) aiid take an honest pride in being his 
honored wife. 

The Captain declares laughingly that I am 
sending him off on a quest like a Knight of 
old, to prove his love. 

I cannot help thinking it strange, his want- 
ing to marry me, and when I said so one day, 
he replied gravely, that it was all on account 
of the tea, which got into his head, and, in- 
deed, it may be so, for I was flighty and 
hardly able to close my eyes to sleep all 
night after partaking of it, and even Grandma 
says she would not answer for the conse- 
quences of what she might be led to do were 
she to make use of it every day. 

I send along with other small things, a 
quantity of the famous tea, and a bit of the 
crepe that I shall, if it seemeth best in the 
honored judgment of my honored Father and 
dear Mother, wear in good time, as a wedding 
gown. 

I remain, as ever, 
Your dutiful and affectionate daughter, 
Ruth Starbuck Wentworth." 

Copyrighted 1921 , Society, Sons of the Rev- 
olution, Los Angeles. 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 012 962 8 # 




A GIRL'S REVELATION OF A 
COLONIAL AMERICAN HOME 






F 69 
.W47 
Copy I 




—Printed and circulated by White & Tyler as a 
contribution to a closer knowledge of earlier Amer- 
ican customs and home life. Organizations and in- 
dividuals desiring to circulate this ^riking letter 
may secure rates per hundred or thousand from 

>VHITE & TYLER 

414 Wesley Roberts Building, Los Angeles, Calif. 

Phone 14028 



he is of good repute, and is so good as to be 
very fond of me, and I feel that if I had your 
consent and that of my honored Father, to- 
gether with your blessing, I shall be very 
happy, and take an honest pride in being his 
honored wife. 

The Captain declares laughingly that I am 
sending him off on a quest like a Knight of 
old, to prove his love. 

I cannot help thinking it strange, his want- 
ing to marry me, and when I said so one day, 
he replied gravely, that it was all on account 
of the tea, which got into his head, and, in- 
deed, it may be so, for I was flighty and 
hardly able to close my eyes to sleep all 
night after partaking of it, and even Grandma 
says she would not answer for the conse- 
quences of what she might be led to do were 
she to make use of it every day. 

I send along with other small things, a 
quantity of the famous tea, and a bit of the 
crepe that I shall, if it seemeth best in the 
honored judgment of my honored Father and 
dear Mother, wear in good time, as a wedding 
gown. 

I remain, as ever. 
Your dutiful and affectionate daughter, 
Ruth Starbuck Wentworth." 

Copyrighted 1921 , Society, Sons of the Rev- 
olution, Los Angeles. 

LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



014 012 962 8 # 



LIBHAKY UK (JUNCiKbSb 



014 012 962 8 



Hollinger Corp. 
pH 8.5 



